High Wind — Bears Paw Mountains and Southern Blaine, Montana

2024-12-18 · Bears Paw Mountains and Southern Blaine, Montana

Event narrative

RAWS sensor FBLM8 Fort Belknap RAWS measured multiple gusts of 58 mph or greater, including a peak gust of 64 mph. Additionally, Montana mesonet station Big Sandy SE (acebsase) measured a 58 mph gust.

Wider weather episode

A robust trough digging southeastward from the Pacific Northwest brought a belt of strong mid and low-level westerly flow across the majority of the region December 18. Given the favorable timing of the strongest flow and cold front, winds were easily able to mix to the surface. A respectable pressure gradient also developed across the area, which helped a few sites reach high sustained winds. In northeastern areas the wind took longer to develop, eventually needing the surface low to pull away from AB toward SK. This propelled a front through the area that brought both strong winds as well as rain that fell onto very cold surfaces, resulting in slick roads.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1220924. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.